Resource Room Newsletter - September/October 2003
<http://www.resourceroom.net >
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Links, articles and lesson plans

This month's feature: Success & self-esteem

Very Good at Everything: Social & Emotional Ramifications of Dyslexia and Other Atypical Learning Styles & Patterns
<http://www.resourceroom.net/Sharestrats/2003steeves.asp>
by Joyce Steeves; reprinted with permission from the International Dyslexia Association, this article talks about the relationship of confidence and competence through three examples.

LD OnLine LD In Depth:  Self-Esteem
<http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/self_esteem/self_esteem.html>
Over a dozen articles about various aspects of self-esteem and learning disabilities.

Dr. Marshall Raskind On What Is Success and How Do Kids With LD Become Successful
<http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=741>
4-part series on the findings of the Frostig Center’s longitudinal study, “Patterns of Change and Predictors of Success in Individuals with Learning Disabilities.”

Recurring Themes in Learning Disabilities
<http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/lrndis/classes/LDthemes.html>
This is just a neat  12-point synopsis of what should be required general knowledge about learning disabilities. 

Orca Soundings - another "high-low" source
<http://www.orcabook.com/> 

In the news

Minds at Risk
<http://www.time.com/time/asia/covers/501030908/dyslexia_asia.html>
Time (Asia), Sept. 1, 2003
Dyslexia is less common in Asia than the U.S., but it's still a big and largely unnoticed problem. 

Education Reform 
<http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Sep/09212003/utah/94390.asp>
Salt Lake Tribune, Sept. 21, 2003
How the local "Performance Plus" reform plan affects students who struggle with reading.

Dyslexia in Adults and Teens Conference
<http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030915/sfm156_1.html>
Information about an October 5 conference featuring Jonathan Mooney, who didn't learn to read until he was 12 yet graduated from Brown University.

Promotion failed our kids: Mike
<http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/121209p-109083c.html>
New York Daily News, Sept. 27, 2003
Discusses students who were socially promoted and then schools had to pay for intensive remediation to teach them to read.

Personal stories in the news:

Dyslexia, bad knees can't stop Tech goalkeeper
< http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/sportstoryA12386A.htm >
Florida Today, September 12, 2003
This soccer goalie learned she was dyslexic in eighth grade reading at a second grade level, but through her aunt's tutoring and soccer skills, she's college bound.
. 

Pinellas' upsized ethics class heads to the dome
<http://www.sptimes.com/2003/09/24/Tampabay/Pinellas__upsized_eth.shtml>
St. Petersburg Times, Fl - Sept. 24, 2003
Multimillionare dyslexic Paul Hanlon, who made his money running a company that made displays for trade shows, gives a presentation including  "Don't Let Being Labeled Keep You from Success."

Making a Family
<http://www.grandrapids-mn.com/placed/index.php?sect_rank=1&story_id=151915&refer_url=>
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Story of a child who found success with the structures and love in his new family.

You're welcome to come chat with us!
Net Haven
<http://www.net-haven.net >
Net Haven is a small, friendly chat site where parents and teachers can supportively share challenges and ideas.

Chat topics are not strictly enforced -- we've been known to wander!
 

Some of the educational resources available from the Resource Room Store

Tandem Reading
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/tandem.asp >
Help new and not-so-new readers make the connection between phonics and good literature. This guide to reading with a child is designed for parents or tutors to support phonics programs with guided practice and reinforcement -- but without losing the fun of reading! Strategies include "penciling" (a simplified version of Alice Ansara's technique) and practicing words and patterns before oral reading.

Harry Potter Comprehension Compendium
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/HarryPotterComprehension.asp >
More than 170 pages of comprehension exercises, chapter by chapter, to accompany Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The workbook is sent directly to your computer as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file. Introductory price: $12.95.

Drill Bits  and Drillable Syllables
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/drillbits.asp >
Word lists and flashcard sets based on the syllable patterns as taught in Orton-Gillingham programs.  Lists are broken down into problem areas such as individual vowel sounds, blends and common "irregular" spelling patterns.

Tools for the Times Tables
by Dr. Steve Chinn (accompanying workbook by Susan Jones)
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/toolstimes.asp >
Who needs a whole book and a workbook about the times tables?
Well, who needs to understand numbers?
Written especially for hands-on learners, this book and workbook are full of strategies and ideas so that students can really master the times tables and come away with a true understanding of numbers and how they work.
If you know someone of any age who finds calculations frustrating, take a look at these books.

Books for New Readers
< http://www.resourceroom.net/Products/literacy.asp > >
These easy, excellent and inexpensive books were written for adults. Romance, adventure and non-fiction are all featured, with diverse characters.

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